Elisa Molina
Elisa Molina is an award-winning nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with more than 13 years of experience in education and nonprofit operations. She currently serves as Director of Operations at Junior Achievement of Georgia, where she leads large-scale, experiential learning programs that impact tens of thousands of students each year. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, Elisa has successfully expanded community partnerships, strengthened program delivery, and driven measurable outcomes across multiple school districts, helping create greater access to educational and economic opportunities. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Elisa is the Founder and CEO of COVEDOZA, a mission-driven social enterprise dedicated to empowering Latina entrepreneurs and creatives. Through her work, she has secured over $58,000+ in competitive grants, launched products and services, and built a platform that blends storytelling, business strategy, and community impact. Her entrepreneurial success has earned her national recognition, including being named an Entreprenista 100 winner and a U.S. Bank Small Business, Big Ambition honoree. She is also a sought-after speaker and small business grants expert, using her knowledge to help others access funding and build sustainable ventures. Elisa’s passion for service and equity is deeply rooted in her early career as a Peace Corps Community Economic Development Facilitator, where she supported grassroots initiatives and capacity-building efforts abroad. Today, she continues that commitment through her work as a board member of Latina Leads US, where she helps empower young Latina girls through leadership and STEM-focused programs. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Elisa is dedicated to creating inclusive pathways for success, combining her expertise in operations, education, and entrepreneurship to uplift communities and inspire the next generation of leaders.
• How to Motivate Yourself to Do What’s Most Important
• Reasoning, Data Analysis, and Writing Specialization
• National Leadership Conference
• Buffalo State University- B.S.
• Florida International University - College of Business- B.S.
• L’Universitá di Siena
• Peace Corps
• 2004-2006 Educational Opportunity Program Honors Award
• Dean’s List
• Who’s Who Among Students of Colleges and Universities Award
• Phillip Santa Maria Memorial Humanitarian Award
• Onward and Upward Employee Award
• 2020 Latino Small Business Resilience Award
• 2020 Hispanic Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award
• 10 Year Service Award
• Voted Best of Gwinnett 2024
• Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated Leadership Scholarship Award
• Latina Leads Foundation (Board Member)
• Autism Day by Day Foundation (supporting neurodivergent community and students with autism)
• Simi Jazz Seeds Foundation (mental health awareness)
What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to my daughter. I am a mom of an 8-year-old firecracker. She is very outspoken and has a really bubbly, beautiful personality. I call her Mimi Covedoza, and I do everything for her, for my mom, and my family. She's my driving force and the reason I push myself to achieve everything I do.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
What I would tell young women is that you have to be okay with putting in the work. It's important for us to be ambitious and have dreams, but those things will not come to fruition unless you do some of the work. If you feel lonely or like you need advice, guidance, or a mentor, go out there and look for that mentor. Even if you're introverted, figure out ways and look for tips and tricks to overcome the fear of approaching strangers, talking to others, and putting yourself out there. You have to put in the work - if you want to shift jobs, go out there and do the research, get to know people, figure out what you really want to do and where you want to go. One of the things I learned when I was really young as an associate at the organization was that I didn't know where I wanted to go, and because of that, a lot of people made the decision for me. I got promoted maybe to do things that weren't necessarily my strengths, but I just did a good job at them and they saw that as potential. It wasn't until later in life that I was more clear and confident as to what I wanted and where I wanted to go, that I started making decisions for myself and advocating for myself. But if you do that at an earlier age, if you're starting your career, it would really help you tremendously. So put in the work, do the research, and get to work.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is the ability to shift from a product-based e-commerce model to service-driven work, which allows for more direct and meaningful impact in the communities I serve. I’ve also been able to leverage small-business resources and funding opportunities that expanded during and after COVID, which have helped open doors for growth and innovation. At the same time, a key challenge is the uneven burden on women who are often balancing careers with caregiving responsibilities, along with long-standing gaps in networking and self-promotion that can limit visibility and advancement.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are feminism and women’s empowerment, community service, creating voice and opportunity for Latina women, and staying grounded in the importance of family.